Free calcium transients and oscillations in nerve cells

Changes in the intracellular level of free calcium induced by different influences in neurones of the snail Helix pomatia have been measured by changes in Fura-2 fluorescence. Thymol in submillimolar concentrations induced the release of stored intracellular calcium. This effect was similar to xanthine-induced release. IP3 and Gpp[NH]p injections also released intracellular calcium. The response to cAMP injections was more complicated and included, probably, both the release of stored calcium and its influx through membrane channels. Oscillations of intracellular free calcium are described. It has been suggested that oscillations can occur only in cases where the mechanism of Ca-dependent calcium release is activated.